US9989039B2 - Single-actuation valve arrangement for aerospace component, and aerospace component - Google Patents

Single-actuation valve arrangement for aerospace component, and aerospace component Download PDF

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Publication number
US9989039B2
US9989039B2 US14/638,402 US201514638402A US9989039B2 US 9989039 B2 US9989039 B2 US 9989039B2 US 201514638402 A US201514638402 A US 201514638402A US 9989039 B2 US9989039 B2 US 9989039B2
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United States
Prior art keywords
actuator
valve arrangement
outlet
inlet
heating element
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US14/638,402
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US20150252794A1 (en
Inventor
Stephan Kraus
Thomas Maier
Markus Wolf
Georg Schulte
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ArianeGroup GmbH
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Airbus DS GmbH
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Assigned to AIRBUS DS GMBH reassignment AIRBUS DS GMBH ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: KRAUS, STEPHAN, MAIER, THOMAS, SCHULTE, GEORG, WOLF, MARKUS
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Assigned to ARIANEGROUP GMBH reassignment ARIANEGROUP GMBH CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AIRBUS - SAFRAN LAUNCHERS GMBH
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/002—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices actuated by temperature variation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G—SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03G7/00—Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for
    • F03G7/06—Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using expansion or contraction of bodies due to heating, cooling, moistening, drying or the like
    • F03G7/065—Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using expansion or contraction of bodies due to heating, cooling, moistening, drying or the like using a shape memory element
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K1/00—Lift valves or globe valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces
    • F16K1/32—Details
    • F16K1/34—Cutting-off parts, e.g. valve members, seats
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
    • F16K31/00—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices
    • F16K31/02—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic
    • F16K31/025—Actuating devices; Operating means; Releasing devices electric; magnetic actuated by thermo-electric means

Definitions

  • Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a single-actuation valve arrangement, particularly for an aerospace component. It comprises an inlet and an outlet as well as an actuator that can be actuated by a heating element. In a non-actuated state of the actuator, flow throughput is enabled between the inlet and the outlet.
  • the valve arrangement thus constitutes a so-called normally-open (NO) configuration.
  • the invention further relates to an aerospace component.
  • Valves are generally used, for example, in places in which a pipe for liquid or gaseous media needs to be opened or closed.
  • the valves can be provided for multiple or also only one-time actuation, the latter being the case in drive systems for aerospace applications, for example.
  • Valves for orbital drive systems are often actuated by pyrotechnical means. While the service life of satellites is becoming longer and longer and can already be more than 15 years, the service life of a pyrotechnical actuator is limited to a few years. If a pyrotechnical valve is actuated at the beginning of a mission, this poses no problem. However, if a valve is to be actuated toward the end of the planned service life of a satellite, for example in order to discharge containers, then the actuation of the valve must be achieved in another way, since the function of the pyrotechnical components cannot be safely ensured.
  • Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to a structurally and/or functionally reliable valve arrangement for closing a valve as well as a corresponding aerospace component for aerospace applications.
  • Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a valve arrangement, particularly for an aerospace component, for one-time actuation, which comprises an inlet and an outlet as well as an actuator that can be actuated by a heating element.
  • a non-actuated state of the actuator flow throughput is enabled between the inlet and the outlet.
  • NO normally-open
  • the actuator is a single-use effect shape memory actuator that is compressed in the martensitic state along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and is integrated into the valve arrangement.
  • the single-use effect shape memory actuator undergoes a change in length, whereby it is gradually pressed against a seal seat that is embodied at the inlet or the outlet.
  • the invention provides a valve arrangement that can be used independently of the service life of an aerospace component, even toward the end of it. A high level of reliability is ensured by the principle employed.
  • the valve is electrically heated.
  • the actuator expands until the original length before compression is reached.
  • Such great forces are thus released that a high-level sealing effect is achieved through the pressing of the single-use effect shape memory actuator against the seal seat.
  • Upon cooling of the actuator its length and force on the seal then remain intact, whereby the valve remains permanently closed.
  • valve arrangement is not subject to any limitation in terms of service life. This results particularly from the fact that the valve arrangement does not use stored chemical energy of any kind. Another advantage is that the valve arrangement can be actuated slowly. As a result, hydraulic shock loads (so-called “water hammer”) can be avoided. Likewise, as a result, no structural shock loads occur as a result of the triggering of explosive charges like in a pyrotechnical valve.
  • the transformation temperature of the material of the actuator lies between 80° C. and 100° C.
  • the transformation temperature depends on the material of the single-use effect shape memory actuator.
  • a nickel-titanium alloy can be used which is also known by the name of Nitinol.
  • a sealing piston is arranged on a front side of the actuator facing away from the seal seat.
  • the sealing piston can be made of a ductile material.
  • PTFE tungsten-silicon
  • aluminum alloys or gold-plated austenitic chromium-nickel steel can be used, for example.
  • the sealing piston is embodied in the shape of a truncated cone. The sealing effect can be positively influenced in the desired manner through the material and the structure of the sealing piston.
  • the seal seat has a truncated-cone shape corresponding to the shape of the sealing piston.
  • the seal seat can be made of a material that is harder in comparison to the scaling piston. This ensures that, as the single-use effect shape memory actuator expands and the great pressures thus released upon pressing against the seal seat, a plastic deformation of the ductile occurs and the desired high-level sealing effect is achieved.
  • an interior space of the housing is subdivided by an elastic partition element into a working space and a free space.
  • the inlet and the outlet advantageously lead into the working space, a first longitudinal segment of the actuator being arranged in the working space with respect to the quantity of the longitudinal actuator.
  • An optional separation of media can be achieved in this way. This is advantageous, for example, if the material of the shape memory actuator and the medium to be connected (e.g., a gas or a fluid) are not chemically compatible.
  • the partition element can be a metal bellows or a diaphragm.
  • the material of the partition element is selected such that there is compatibility with the medium to be connected.
  • a titanium or an FeNiCr alloy, for example, can be used as the material.
  • the actuator has a recess extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis in whose interior the heating element is arranged.
  • the recess can be embodied, for example, as a bore and pass substantially nearly completely through the actuator.
  • the heating element In order to ensure the switching-off of the heating element, it is advantageous for the heating element to be secured by means of a thermal fuse. When the transformation temperature is exceeded, the thermal fuse can be tripped, thus separating the power circuit from the heating element. Overheating of the medium to be connected can be prevented in this way.
  • the longitudinal axis of the actuator matches with a longitudinal axis of the inlet or of the outlet.
  • the inlet and the outlet can be arranged on different sides of a housing of the valve arrangement.
  • the a be arranged on the bottom of the housing, while the inlet is provided on one of the side walls of the housing of the valve arrangement.
  • an aerospace component for an aerospace application which has at least one valve arrangement of the type described above.
  • the aerospace component e.g., a satellite, a drive component or the like, has the same advantages as were described above in connection with the valve arrangement according to the invention.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a valve arrangement according to the invention before activation
  • FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a valve arrangement according to the invention from FIG. 1 after activation thereof.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a valve arrangement according to the invention.
  • the valve arrangement is provided for one-time actuation and is open in a non-actuated state, which is shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the valve arrangement thus constitutes a so-called normally-open (NO) valve arrangement.
  • the valve arrangement comprises a housing 4 .
  • the housing 4 is embodied in multiple parts merely for the sake of example and consists of side walls 15 and a bottom 16 .
  • the housing part comprising the side walls 15 can be embodied in a single piece, i.e., it can be cylindrical.
  • the bottom 16 and the side walls 15 are connected to each other in a fluid-tight manner by means of a circumferential welded seam or several welded seams 17 .
  • Protruding from the upper side into the housing interior 11 of the housing 4 is an actuator 5 embodied as a single-use effect shape memory actuator.
  • the substantially longitudinal actuator 5 has a flange 18 with which it is supported on the upper side on the side walls 15 or rests thereupon. A fluid-tight connection is established between the flange 18 or the actuator 5 and the side walls 15 by means of welded seams 19 .
  • the housing 4 has an inlet 1 on the left side wall 15 and an outlet 6 on the bottom 16 .
  • a longitudinal axis of the outlet 2 matches with a longitudinal axis of the actuator 5 (also not shown).
  • the actuator 5 is provided with a sealing piston 8 made of ductile material.
  • PTFE truncated cone shape
  • the truncated cone tapering in the direction of the outlet 2 .
  • the seal seat 6 embodied at the outlet 2 has an inverse truncated-cone shaped structure corresponding thereto, i.e., the outlet 2 expands in the direction of the housing interior.
  • the seal seat 6 of the outlet 2 is made of a hard material.
  • a titanium alloy/FeNiCr alloy, for example, can be used for this purpose.
  • the actuator 5 is provided on its interior with a longitudinal recess 14 , e.g., a bore.
  • An electrical heating element 7 is arranged in the recess 14 which extends nearly over the entire length of the actuator 5 .
  • the heating element 7 is connected via an optional thermal fuse 9 to a power or energy source (not shown).
  • the interior space 11 of the housing is subdivided by an elastic partition element 3 , for example a metal bellows or a diaphragm, into a working space 12 and a free space 13 .
  • the inlet 1 and the outlet 2 come to rest in the housing 4 such that they lead into the working space 12 .
  • a first, short longitudinal segment of the actuator is arranged in the working space 12 .
  • a second longitudinal segment that is larger or substantially larger than the first, short longitudinal segment is arranged in the free space 13 .
  • the free space 13 remains free of the medium to be connected, e.g., a gas or a fluid.
  • the elastic partition element is advantageous if the material of the actuator 5 is not compatible with the medium to be connected.
  • the partition element 3 can border the actuator 5 such that only the sealing piston 8 lies in the working space 12 .
  • the actuator 5 is a single-use effect shape memory actuator with martensitic and austenitic transformation characteristics.
  • the actuator 5 is compressed in the martensitic state and integrated into the valve arrangement in the manner shown in FIG. 1 .
  • the transformation temperature lies in a range between 80° C. and 100° C. In this temperature range, overheating of the medium to be connected is reliably prevented.
  • the heating element 7 is activated through the application of current. Once the transformation temperature, which depends on the material or the material composition of the actuator, is reached, the actuator 5 expands until the original length before compression is reached. Great forces are released during expansion which plastically deform the sealing piston 8 , which is made of ductile material, upon meeting the hard seal seat 6 . As a result, good contact of the sealing piston 8 against the seal seat 6 is achieved, thus resulting in a high-level sealing effect.
  • the optionally provided thermal fuse 9 is tripped, thus separating the power circuit from the heating element 7 .
  • overheating of the medium to be connected which can now no longer flow out of the working space 12 on the interior of the valve arrangement, is prevented.
  • FIG. 2 shows the state of the valve arrangement after actuation, with the sealing piston 8 resting in a plastically deformed manner against the seal seat 6 . It can also be clearly seen that, as a result of the change in length of the actuator 5 , the partition element 3 follows the longitudinal movement of the actuator 5 in the direction of the outlet 2 and slightly reduces the size of the working space.
  • the advantage of the existing valve arrangement is that there is no limitation to the service life, since no stored chemical energy need be used for the actuation.
  • valve arrangement is simple, so that it can also be provided in a cost-effective manner.
US14/638,402 2014-03-06 2015-03-04 Single-actuation valve arrangement for aerospace component, and aerospace component Active 2035-04-22 US9989039B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102014002972.7A DE102014002972B4 (de) 2014-03-06 2014-03-06 Einmalig betätigbare Ventilanordnung für eine Raumfahrtkomponente und Raumfahrtkomponente
DE102014002972.7 2014-03-06
DE102014002972 2014-03-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20150252794A1 US20150252794A1 (en) 2015-09-10
US9989039B2 true US9989039B2 (en) 2018-06-05

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US14/638,402 Active 2035-04-22 US9989039B2 (en) 2014-03-06 2015-03-04 Single-actuation valve arrangement for aerospace component, and aerospace component

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US9989039B2 (de)
EP (1) EP2916053B1 (de)
CN (1) CN104896179B (de)
DE (1) DE102014002972B4 (de)
DK (1) DK2916053T3 (de)
ES (1) ES2686633T3 (de)
PT (1) PT2916053T (de)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202012104460U1 (de) * 2012-11-19 2014-02-21 Otto Egelhof Gmbh & Co. Kg Abschaltventil für flüssige und gasförmige Medien
DE102016218684B4 (de) 2016-09-28 2019-06-19 Arianegroup Gmbh Ventil zum Schließen einer Fluidleitung und Raumfahrzeugantriebssystem
KR102461270B1 (ko) * 2018-02-08 2022-10-28 엘지전자 주식회사 식기세척기

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US256109A (en) * 1882-04-04 Steam globe-valve
US3974844A (en) * 1973-06-11 1976-08-17 Texas Instruments Incorporated Valve
JPH02125188A (ja) 1988-11-02 1990-05-14 Eagle Ind Co Ltd 二重感温式遮断弁
US4973024A (en) 1989-09-26 1990-11-27 Toki Corporation Kabushiki Kaisha Valve driven by shape memory alloy
US6575188B2 (en) * 2001-07-26 2003-06-10 Handylab, Inc. Methods and systems for fluid control in microfluidic devices
US20050173661A1 (en) * 2003-12-23 2005-08-11 Anthony Mignon Spaceship valve with actuator made of shape-memory alloy
JP2009092130A (ja) 2007-10-09 2009-04-30 Mitsubishi Plastics Inc 形状記憶合金バネを用いた熱動弁
US20110234362A1 (en) * 2008-12-10 2011-09-29 Raytheon Company Shape memory circuit breakers
DE102011054458A1 (de) 2010-10-27 2012-05-03 Gm Global Technology Operations Llc, ( N.D. Ges. D. Staates Delaware) Aktiver Ablassstopfen für Hochvoltbatterie-Anwendungen
US20130167377A1 (en) 2008-01-16 2013-07-04 United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Spac Systems, methods and apparatus of a nitinol valve
US20130340843A1 (en) * 2012-06-21 2013-12-26 Richard T. Gilmer Safety Valve
DE202012104460U1 (de) 2012-11-19 2014-02-21 Otto Egelhof Gmbh & Co. Kg Abschaltventil für flüssige und gasförmige Medien

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US7727181B2 (en) * 2002-10-09 2010-06-01 Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. Fluid delivery device with autocalibration
DE102005045432A1 (de) * 2005-09-23 2007-03-29 Möhlenhoff Wärmetechnik GmbH Anordnung zum Verstellen eines Ventils

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US256109A (en) * 1882-04-04 Steam globe-valve
US3974844A (en) * 1973-06-11 1976-08-17 Texas Instruments Incorporated Valve
JPH02125188A (ja) 1988-11-02 1990-05-14 Eagle Ind Co Ltd 二重感温式遮断弁
US4973024A (en) 1989-09-26 1990-11-27 Toki Corporation Kabushiki Kaisha Valve driven by shape memory alloy
US6575188B2 (en) * 2001-07-26 2003-06-10 Handylab, Inc. Methods and systems for fluid control in microfluidic devices
US20050173661A1 (en) * 2003-12-23 2005-08-11 Anthony Mignon Spaceship valve with actuator made of shape-memory alloy
JP2009092130A (ja) 2007-10-09 2009-04-30 Mitsubishi Plastics Inc 形状記憶合金バネを用いた熱動弁
US20130167377A1 (en) 2008-01-16 2013-07-04 United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Spac Systems, methods and apparatus of a nitinol valve
US20110234362A1 (en) * 2008-12-10 2011-09-29 Raytheon Company Shape memory circuit breakers
DE102011054458A1 (de) 2010-10-27 2012-05-03 Gm Global Technology Operations Llc, ( N.D. Ges. D. Staates Delaware) Aktiver Ablassstopfen für Hochvoltbatterie-Anwendungen
US9038983B2 (en) 2010-10-27 2015-05-26 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Active drain plug for high voltage battery applications
US20130340843A1 (en) * 2012-06-21 2013-12-26 Richard T. Gilmer Safety Valve
DE202012104460U1 (de) 2012-11-19 2014-02-21 Otto Egelhof Gmbh & Co. Kg Abschaltventil für flüssige und gasförmige Medien
US20150316164A1 (en) * 2012-11-19 2015-11-05 Otto Egelhof Gmbh & Co. Kg Shut-off valve for liquid or gaseous media

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
European Search Report issued in counterpart European Application No. 15000586.6 dated Jul. 27, 2015 with Statement of Relevancy (Nine (9) pages).

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PT2916053T (pt) 2018-10-18
CN104896179B (zh) 2020-06-16
US20150252794A1 (en) 2015-09-10
EP2916053B1 (de) 2018-07-18
EP2916053A1 (de) 2015-09-09
ES2686633T3 (es) 2018-10-18
CN104896179A (zh) 2015-09-09
DE102014002972A1 (de) 2015-09-10
DE102014002972B4 (de) 2019-06-19
DK2916053T3 (en) 2018-09-17

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